Slidable and swivel-top table



Dec. 21, 1965 J. COOPER 3,224,391

SLIDABLE AND SWIVEL-TOP TABLE Filed Jan. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5X ,1 (\Cl dmg/ QXQQZ BY /.e. A440 Dec. 21, 1965 J. COOPER 3,224,391

SLIDABLE AND SWIVEL-TOP TABLE Filed Jan. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 FIG. 2 G

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y w 6121320211 A 6 5 BY M 3,224,391 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 ice 3,224,391 SLIDABLE AND SWIVEL-TOP TABLE Joseph Cooper, Forest Hills, N.Y. (65-10 Fresh Meadow Lane, Flushing 65, N.Y.) Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 341,028 1 Claim. (Cl. 108-140) In many restaurants, table space is greatly restricted and, because of the relative positions of a plurality of tables and also near-wall positions, it is inconvenient in many cases for a customer to be seated without moving the table, particularly when the customer is required to reach a seat between the table and a wall, or where one seat facing the table is fixed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a table having a top which can be bodily pulled in either of two directions, which can be rotated 90, and more importantly, can be held in adjusted positions by special latching means carried by the table top and following it in its movements, and readily reached at both ends of the table top.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with the invention, partly broken away, and showing in dotted lines various positions of adjustment of the table top;

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking at the under side of the table, a tubular supporting standard for the table having been broken away, the table top being in normal posi tion;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the table top moved to the left and showing the position of the latching means in said adjustment;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary section on the line 3a, FIG. 3, showing connection between rectangular member 4 and one of the two channel bars;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 2, but with the table top swung in the direction of the arrow 90 relatively to member 3, showing the action of stop means;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views showing in FIG. 5, two tables with positioned chairs, and in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, three tables in various positions of adjustment.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the basic elements of the table consist of a tubular standard 1, customarily having a supporting base 2. Fixed to the top of tubular standard 1 is a circular or disk-like head-piece 3 which is pivoted to a rectangular member 4, at 4 The table top 5 carries two fixed channel bars 6 having sliding relation to rectangular member 4. Thus the table top, with its channel bars, may be moved in two directions endwise relatively to members 3 and 4, and may be swung with member 4 relatively to the fixed head 3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the under side of the table top and associated members, also with reference to FIG. 30, it will be seen that latching means are provided for holding the table top in various adjusted positions.

For such purposes, one of the channel bars 6 has pivoted thereto at 7, and intermediate its length, a latch operating bar 8. In the present embodiment, pivot member 7 is carried by a bracket arm 7x carried by one of the channel bars 6. Connected at one end to a channel bar 6, and at its other end to latch operating bar 8, is a spring 9, preferably U-shaped as shown. This spring constantly urges the operating bar 8 inwardly. Carried by rectangular member 4 is a latch receiving finger 10, adapted to enter a slot at 11 in latch operating lever 8 when the table top is in the position of FIG. 2. Also latch operating bar 8 carries a vertical lug 16, adapted to be engaged by a finger 14, on annular head 3 of the table standard 1. This latter finger 14 is adapted to act in conjunction with a stop member 15 carried by rectangular member 4.

When the table top is centered on the standard, as in FIG. 2, it is held against rotation, with rectangular member 4, by the fact that member 14 is held between vertical lug 16 and stop member 15. Furthermore the table top is held against endwise movement because latch finger 10 is in slot 11 of latch operating bar 8. When it is desired to impart a sliding adjustment to the table top, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, latch operating bar is manually moved from either end of the table and is held until a slight movement of the table top is given, whereupon full adjusting movement may be made. For example, the table top may be moved to the position of FIG. 3.

In the position of FIG. 3, the latch operating bar is held against return to operative position, and also the table top may be rotated on pivot 4 and along with rectangular member 4, as shown by the dotted line, FIG. 7. In FIG. 4, the table top has been rotated from its position in FIG. 2. Whence so rotated, the table top will be held against further rotation in the same direction because stop member 17, carried by rectangular member 4, will engage a finger 14 carried by the fixed head 3 of the standard 1, and latch finger 10 will be in position to enter slot 11 of the latch operating bar 8.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawing, it will be seen that the rotary movement of the table top enables a restaurant patron to move inwardly toward a far seat initially facing a table with greater space for movement and greater space for seating preliminary to sliding the table top to initial position, and all without moving the supporting standard. Also two or more tables may quickly be rotated to bring their ends into abutment for seating a plurality of patrons greater than the number customarily assigned two tables. The fact that the table top latching bar may be operated from both ends of the table top, and will automatically latch the table top against both sliding movement and rotation, adds to the operativeness and simplicity of the improvement.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements constituting the embodiment illustrated in the drawings without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

In a table, a standard having a fixed head at its upper end, an upstanding pivot member carried by said head, a table supporting member mounted on said pivot means for rotation, a unitary table top mounted on said supporting member and having end and longitudinal side margins, guide means carried at opposite margins of said supporting member, means slidingly interengaging said guide means and carried by the table top at its longitudinal side margins, a bracket arm carried by one channel bar, a latch operating lever extending longitudinally of the table top so that its ends are projected to approximately the ends of the table top, said lever having a recess therein, pivot means connecting the latch opening lever, intermediate its ends, to the said bracket, a spring normally urging said latch oper- 3 4 ating lever in a direction inwardly of the table top, a latch- References Cited by the Examiner receiving finger carried by said top supporting member UNITED STATES PATENTS and adapted to enter the recess of the latch operating lever, a stop finger carried by the fixed head of the stand- 1 a g f ard, two spaced lugs carried by the table top supporting 5 2118620 5/1938 zg i' a X member and disposed thereon at about right angles to 2307396 1/1943 Dram; X each other, each lug normally being spaced from said stop 2332291 10/1943 Binz u 108 14O finger a distance equal to that required for rotation of the 2837'390 6/1958 i 108 137 table top in either of opposite directions, 90 degrees rela- 2:8]51321 9/1958 Malburg 3 14 tively to the top supporting member, and each lug being 0 positioned for abutment with said stop finger. FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.- 

